I haven't been able to connect my computer to the internet for about a week now. Here's the problem...I'm connected to my home network using Verizon DSL and all the computers in my house can connect to the Internet except mine. The modem is fine, and the router is fine. I can't understand what the problem is, but I can't live without the internet, and I'm afraid a complete format is the only solution.

Here's the strange thing. I can get onto the Internet every great once in a while, but only for about 30 seconds, and then I get "kicked" off as it stops working...while all the other computers in the house are fine. When it stops working, I can't even connect to the router using 192.168.1.1. All my network settings are fine because I haven't touched them. Any idea what can be causing this? I'd like to download all the new security updates from microsoft, but I can't get online long enough to do anything. Could a virus be causing this?

I've got Norton Internet Security 2006, but I've already disabled it many times to see if the firewall was reconfigured and might have stopped it, but still nothing. IE and Outlok are both configured to "Automatic" so I changed them to "Permit all" before disabling and still nothing.

I also did a netsh winsock reset and netsh firewall reset (even though I don't use windows firewall) and still nothing. This is killing me! Can anyone help??? THANKS!

Yeah, as far as I can tell, it's connected properly. There's a little light that comes on on the network card itself when there is a "cable" connection. That's what's driving me crazy because since I can't even get to the router, it's acting like there's literally no physical cable connected at all, which in fact there is, and from as far as I can tell, it's connected exactly the way it should be.

if your other computers don't loose connectivity, try swapping the ethernet cables from one of them to your primary computer and see what happens. if your connection keeps dropping, there's obviously a problem with you computer. if you want to find out if it's a messed up setting in your windows env., trying booting in safe mode with networking and see if it's ok then. if it is, you'll just have to find a problem in windows. if not, there might be a hardware issue. well, there is a zillion things that could have gone wrong here, so i guess you'll just need to troubleshoot and eliminate every option one by one. you can also try removing your connection altogether and adding it back (in network connections). you can try adding/removing your TCP/IP connection, etc. etc..

Well, thanks for the help so far guys...I'm going to screw with it more later, and I'll try some of the things you suggested....I just needed a fresh perspective from you guys because I'm trying the same thing over and over and over again and nothing works! :mad:

I know the problem is on my end and that's what kills me. Usually when I've got a really stubborn problem, I call up verizon and they'd reset my password, and I'd just reconnect that way (believe it or not, a password caused a problem once before out of the blue). But since there is a dead connection between my network card and the router says something is definitely wrong on my end. Well, I'm on the computer at work now and I'll be signing off soon and I'm going to work on it again when I get home, but if you guys can think of anything in the meantime, please let me know. Thanks.

1) Cable is faulty or not properly connected. Swap cables to test this.
2) Hardware configuration on your end is not optimal. Change your TCP/IP settings on your ethernet card to "obtain automatic IP" and the same goes with the DNS server. Put everything on automatic.
3) Your network card has gone bad. I've seen this happen before - namely with cards that are NOT 3Com. Swap network cards if it's not a big hassle.
4) You have spyware, trojan horses, and/or viruses that inhibit you from going online. Unfortunately, most anti-spyware programs and anti-virus programs are useless if you can't even get online to download the latest database files. Run 'msconfig' from the start menu "run...". Click on "start up" tab and unclick all applications which you feel are suspected as malicious software. Note that 'msconfig' is only valid for WinXP based OPs.
5) The port you're connecting to on the router is faulty. Switch ports to test this.
6) Make sure you have access to the router if you are using any MAC filtering. e.g. add your MAC address to the router (using a computer that has access to the router).
7) Right click your network icon in the system tray and click 'repair'. Sometimes Windows will fix the connectivity issue...most times it won't.

Well, thanks everybody. I guess the case is closed. I had an extra network card in my old computer and swapped it, and it turns out everything is working ok now, finally! Thanks again....looks like I'm back online. I never thought a network card could go bad, but I suppose in this case, it did

Ha ha ha! I copied your list of suggestions into word and printed them out at work so I had something to go by at home.

Sure, I guess I could have used another computer on my home network to get the list, but since this problem I've found using another computer in my house while my regular one is still broken is even more frustrating!

When you aren't getting connection...what is your IP Address? go to a dos prompt...type in IPCONFIG...if you are getting a valid IP address, then ping a website... ping yahoo.com and see whether or not you get a response... let me know how it goes

sharp1183, good to see you back, I was actually going to post a missing persons thread.... seriously.

You and I have been around since May, and we've been through that iDrive mp3 fiasco. Have you gotten yours updated yet? I have an appointment for tomorrow.

Hey, thanks RedStripe! It's nice to feel appreciated!

Actually, no I haven't been to the dealer since the summertime when I had my motion sensor installed for the alarm (that fiasco! )

But no, I haven't even called about it. I figured I'd wait until I was sure that the dealer would know EXACTLY what I was talking about ...because I mentioned the mp3 thing in the summer and the service dept had no idea what I was talking about.

Anyway, yeah if you've got the appointment tomorrow, make sure you let us know how things turn out when you're done.